ComEd Public Schools Carbon-Free Assessment

The Challenge

Under Illinois’ Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), ComEd needed to help 3,000+ public K-12 schools—many in environmental justice communities (EJCs)—overcome aging infrastructure, limited budgets, and lack of technical resources to move toward carbon-free operations by 2050.

Our Solution

Michaels Energy partnered with ComEd to design and implement the Public Schools Carbon-Free Assessment (PSCFA)—a free, comprehensive facility assessment program providing each school with a clear roadmap to decarbonization. Each PSCFA includes:

• Energy efficiency and electrification opportunities
• Solar potential and electrical service needs
• Health and safety improvements (WELL Building guidance)
• Support for grants and third-party funding

Michaels leads program management, engineering, marketing, and outreach, collaborating with technical partners to deliver tailored assessments and hands-on support.

Marketing & Outreach Approach

To maximize participation, Michaels executes targeted campaigns and on-the-ground engagement:

• Multichannel campaigns (email, social, direct mail) to drive awareness
• Community partnerships (IASBO, ISBE, and local organizations) to expand reach
• Video storytelling from participating schools to build trust and credibility
• Continuous improvement—data-driven adjustments to boost conversion rates

All deliverables undergo full QA/QC review in ComEd’s software platform, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and ease of collaboration.

The Results

• 800+ schools served since launch
• 40% participation from EJCs annually
• 1,331M kWh in identified savings; 519M kWh in EJCs
• 318 projects implemented, cutting nearly 6,400 tons of CO₂
• Healthier learning environments for students and staff

Client Feedback

“Working with Michaels Energy as the Implementation contractor for the Public Schools Carbon-Free Assessment (PSCFA) program at ComEd has been a very positive experience. Michaels Energy’s technical and background utility knowledge base has been instrumental in both meeting our required program deliverables and delivering a product to our customers that clearly communicates all the ways we can help them both within our program’s portfolio and externally. I would not hesitate to work with Michaels Energy as an implementation contractor in the future.”

—Eric Iversen, Senior Program Manager, ComEd